Retaining clamps



March 311, 1959 J. G. BAMBERGER- RETAINING cLAMPs Filed May 2:5, 1958 .a f %2MMMM2 IN VEN TOR.

United States ,Passt 0 RETAINING CLAMPS Julien G. Bamberger, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor' t'o B-T Company, Inc., Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin A i Application May 23, 1958, Serial No. 737,277

S Claims. ('Cl. 248-361) This invention relates to retaining clamps, and more particularly to a retaining clamp for use with outboard motor remote fuel containers".

With the increased interest in boating in recent years, many' new and useful improvements in outboard motors andboats have been developed to increase their efficiency and to enhance the comfort and enjoyment of the riders. Onef of the principal developments has been the introduc= tion ofgremote fuel containers to replace vthe relatively small conventional engine fuel tanks. Such remote tanks permit the operation of a boat for an extended' period, and eliminate the necessity for frequent refueling. An objection to the use' of remote tanks, however, is that, rested on` the bottom of the boat, such tanks have a tendency to bouncey andvibrate and also to slide-about on tbeltioor, frequently knocking against the sides and?I seats ofthe boat t'o deface both the boat and tank. In` addition, loosel fueltanks are inclined to slide on the bottom of a, boat to spread oil and other messy andl dangerously slippery substances about on` said bottom. The general: object ofthel present' invention, therefore, is to provide a clamping device to anchor such remote fuel tanks andto prevent their undesired vibration and' movementvv in a boat'.

A further objectI of the present invention i`s to provide' a` clamp for outboard motor remote fuel tanks which maybe easilyV and quickly installed on the bottom of a boat,'and with which device a fuel tank may be locked securely in place or released in a matter ofV seconds;

A. further object' is toprovide a positive locking clamp which may beV manually operated or adjusted with a minimum of effort and 'without' the necessity'v of addi@ tional tools-or equipment'.

A further object of the. invention is to provide a lockf ing device which will effectively anchor a remote fuel"` tank, thereby' preventing such tank from causing injury topassengers or` damage tothe boat interior, and which device eliminates the necessity for makeshift protective` padding on the boat.

A more specific. object of the present invention is to. provide a retainingv clamp which, when three.v or more of the clamps are employed at spaced points around the sides of a. fuel tank, will' support said tank in an even` plane elevated above the bottom of a boat.

A. further, object of the` invention is toprovidea clampf having novel means for preventing marring of the tank and for cushioning the.. clamped portion of the tank` toinsure against vibration noise.

A more specific object ofthe invention is to providea fuel tank retaining clamp having a novel one-piece, resilient gripping member interposed between the tank base 4rim and' clamp to prevent metal-to-metal Contact; A still further'l object of the invention is toprovide at clamp having resilient jawprot`ecting element which is" formed"v of plastic orA the like molded' to-l provide a snap-in, snaptoutztzwithithe tank` base rim.

2,879,969 g .12.-lt-"enifsel Mar. si, 195s 2; provide a fuel tank retaining clamp which is relatively small4 and iuconspicuous.

Further objects are to provide a retaining clamp foriv outboard motor remote fuel tanks which is strong and durable, which is simple :finclinexpensive` in construction,`

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. and which is well adapted for the purposes described.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of the fuel tank retaining clamp, and" all of its parts and combinations, as` set forth in the claims, and all equivalents thereof.

ln the drawing accompanying and forming a part. of.

` this specification, wherein the" same reference characters stilil further object. ofA the; present;I invention isv to designate the same parts in all. of the views.:v

Fig. 1 is a perspective view ofthe clamp;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the clamp,` illustrating the clamp in initial engaging position with" the -base rim of a fuel container before the clamp has'` been tightened;

Fig. 3 is a plan viewr of thel resilient gripping member' alone; and A Fig. 4 isa fragmentary vertical sectional view of thev clamp in hrm, final engagement withy the base rim of *af fuel container. Y

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the fuelvv tank clamp includes a base memberl 10 which is gen-- erally l.shaped in cross-section, and whichv base includes al pair of opposed, laterally-'projectiug wings 11 having apertures 11' therethrough. The bases member may be permanently secured to a boat bottom by meansv ofboltsl or the like protected through said apertures.`

They horizontal portion 13 of saidvv base member 1l)-- preferably has a curved edge, as seen in Fig. 1l and a' concave top surface 14 which slopes upwardly toward" the vertical leg 15 of said base, there being a relatively narrow horizontal shelf 14" between said concavel surface M and said vertical leg. A threaded hole 16 extends inwardly from said top face'14, and projects through top plate has a hole i9 therethrough in alignment with:

the threaded hole loin the base member, the inner end.'l of said hole being enlarged' to provide an internal springy shoulder i9' Within said top plate..v The outer edge of" said top plate is provided withl a slot 20, extending radially inwardly to a point spaced a short distance from the hole 19, to receive theI aforementioned lug17'. The engagement of said lug 1'7 with said slot asiillustratedfin Fig. l prevents the rotatable movement of said top` plate and-maintains the same in proper position on:y the base;

A turn boltv 21, including a threaded shaft and an` enlarged head 21",A is projected" through thel hole 19 irr the top plate 18', and is screwed intothe aligned threaded hole 16 in the base lil', thereby` adjustably joining said top plate and base member for clamping action. As will be seen in Fig. 2, a helical spring-22, surrounding said turn b olt' shaft and abuttingy theshoulder 159' within said top plate, is interposed? between said clamping andi` basemembers to holdv the clamping plate snugly against" the bolt head 21" and to preventA undesired. downwardA sliding movement of said top? clamping plate on the" bolt; A washer 23 on the bolt` is positioned overv the opening inthe outer face.` of said top plate tofbeengagedbyf the'. bolt head 21.'.

Carried: between... the` upper. parte osi the tbp pIatjelBi and the base is a resilient gripping member 24 which forms a very important component of the present invention. Said gripping memb'ef'r is generally Y-shaped in cross-section, as illustrated in Fig. 2, and comprises a stem 24' curved to match the concavity 14, having a bolt hole 29 therethrough (Fig. 3), the diameter of said hole being relatively large to permit some shifting of said gripping member on the bolt shaft. Diverging from the upper end of said stem 24' is a pair of arms 25 and 26 forming pincers, as will be more fully described hereinafter. Said gripping member is formed of resilient plastic, such as polyethylene, or other suitable material, and'is rigid enough to retain its normal shape of Fig. 2 when there is no pressure thereon, but resilient enough that the arms will be pinched together when the top and base members are drawn together through the action of the turn bolt as in Fig. 4.

As illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4, the inner pincer arm 26 is shorter and is curved to lit against the adjacent upright portion of the base. It is designed to engage the inner side of the base rim 28 of a remote fuel container, while the other, longer arm 25 engages the opposite or outer face of said bottom rim. Said pincer arm 25 has a transverse ridge 27 formed on and protruding from its inner face, intermediate its length. As will be seen, the vertical base rim 28 of the fuel tank is provided with an external shoulder 28' near its bottom edge formed by upturned marginal material of the tank bottom, which `shoulder is engaged beneath the protruding ridge 27 when the gripping member .is in pinching position of Fig. 4, thereby providing a locking means to prevent the accidental disengagement of the tank.

In use, three or more of the holding clamps may be permanently secured to the fiooring of a boat by means of screws projected through the wing apertures 11', adjacent the spot the remote fuel tank is to be anchored. The heads 21 of the turn bolts are turned to partially withdraw the bolts, the springs 22 simultaneously separating the top clampingplates 18 from the base members 10. The vertical base rim 28 of a fuel tank is then lowered into the groove provided between said top plate and upright portion 15 of the base, and between the diverging arms 25 and 26 of the gripping member, as shown in Fig. 2. The weight of the fuel tank forces each resilient gripping member downwardly and firmly against its horizontal shelf 14' of the rigid base, as illustrated in Fig. 4, the enlarged nature of the hole 29, as hreeinbefore described, permitting such shifting movement of the gripping members. During such movement, even if the clamps are not fullyopened, the resilient nature of the gripping member 24 permits the shoulder 28' of the tank base rimv to snap beneath the transverse rib 27 of the gripping member.

Finally, each bolt 21 is tightened to cause clamping. As a top clamping plate approaches its base its upper part engages the pincer arm 25 of the gripping member and forces the same inwardly toward the arm 26 and vertical leg 15 of the base member, squeezing the fuel tank rim 28 firmly between said arms. As will be seen in Fig. 4, when the top plate 18 is in clamping position, the pincer arms 25 and 26 assume a nearly vertical position, with the fuel tank base rim engaged securely therebetween, the protruding ridge 27 engaging above the shoulder 28' on the tank rim to provide a lock, and the bottom edge of the rim resting solidly on the horizontal shelf 14 of the base member.

When it is desired to release the clamps, as when the fuel tank is to be removed for refilling or storage, it is merely necessary to loosen the turn bolts and to lift up on the tank, which operation may be performed within a matter of seconds and without the necessity of special tools or equipment. Even if the clamps are not fully loosened, the resilient nature of the gripping members' 24 permit the tank rim shoulders 28 to snap past the ribs 27 of the gripping members. As will be readily appreciated, the novel clamp comprising the present invention provides a simple and eicient means for anchoring a remote fuel tank and for preventing such tank from spreading dirty water and oil around the bottom of the boat or causing injury to the passengers or marring of the boat interior or tank exterior.

Various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and all of such changes are contemplated as may come within the scope of the claims.

What I claim is:

1. A retaining clamp comprising a pair of relatively movable rigid clamping members having an upwardly opening clamping recess therebetween, a gripping member of resilient material having spacedupwardly opening arms within said clamping recess which are so positioned therein as to be drawn together to clamp an object therebetween when said clamping members are drawn together, and means for clamping moving said clamping members.

2. A retaining clamp comprising a pair of relatively movable rigid clamping members having an upwardly opening clamping recess therebetween, a gripping member of resilient plastic material having spaced upwardly opening arms within said clamping recess which are so positioned therein as to be drawn together to clamp'an object therebetween when said clamping members are drawn together, and means for clampingly moving said clamping members, one of said gripping member arms having a-horizontal locking ridge on its inner face.

3; A retaining clamp comprising: a rigid, L-shaped base; a movable top clamping plate adjacent said base; a gripping member carried between said base and clamping plate, said gripping member having a pair of upwardly. opening arms; and means for drawing the base and top plate together, said clamping plate being so positioned with respect to said arms that an object inserted between said arms will be clamped.

4. A retaining clamp comprising: a rigid, L-shaped base having a threaded hole therethrough; a top clamping plate adjacent said base, said top plate having a hole therethrough in alignment with said threaded hole in the base; a resilient gripping member carried between said top plate and base and having a hole therethrough in alignment with said threaded hole, said gripping member having a pair of diverging resilient pincer arms; and a threaded bolt projected through the holes in said top plate and gripping member and screwed into the threaded base hole, whereby said base and top plate may be clampingly drawn together, said clamping plate being so positioned with respect to said pincer arms that an object inserted between said top plate and base, and between said resilient pincer a'rms will be resiliently clamped.

5. A retaining clamp for fuel containers of the type having a vertical base rim with a horizontal shoulder, which clamp comprises: an L-shaped base having an upright part and a horizontal part, the horizontal part of said base having a threaded hole; a top plate carried above said horizontal part and adjacent the vertical part of said base, said top plate having a hole therethrough in align ment with said threaded hole of the base; a resilient gripping member carried between said top plate and base and having a hole therethrough in alignment with said threaded hole, and having a pair of upwardly opening pincer arms between said top plate and the adjacent vertical part of the base, one of said pincer arms having a transverse ridge on the inner surface thereof; and a threaded bolt projected through the holes in said top plate and gripping member and screwed into the threaded base hole to adjustably join said top plate and base whereby said top plate and base may be drawn together, and whereby the bottom rim of a fuel container inserted between said top plate and base, and between said diverging pincer arms will be z.

resiliently clamped between said pincer arms,l said protruding pincer arm ridge being positioned to engage above the rim shoulder.

6. A retaining clamp for fuel containers of the type having a vertical base rim with a horizontal shoulder, which clamp comprises: a base; a top plate movably carried adjacent said base; a pair of upwardly opening resilient pincer arms carried between said base and top plate, one of said arms having a protrusion on the inner surface thereof; and means for drawing the base and top plate together, whereby the bottom rim of a fuel container inserted between said base and top plate, and between said pincer arms, will be resiliently clamped between said pincer arms, said pincer arm protrusion being positioned to engage above the rim shoulder.

7. A retaining clamp for fuel containers of the type having a vertical base rim with a horizontal shoulder, which clamp comprises: a base; a top plate movably carried adjacent said base; spring means between said top plate and base normally maintaining the same in spaced relationship; a pair of upwardly opening resilient pincer arms carried between said base and top plate, one of said arms having a protrusion formed on the inner surface thereof; and means for drawing the base and top plate together against the action of said spring means, whereby the bottom rim of a fuel container inserted between said base and top plate, and between said pincer arms, will be resiliently clamped between said pincer arms, said pincer arm protrusion being positioned to engage above the rim shoulder.

8. A retaining clamp for fuel containers of the type having a vertical base rim with a horizontal shoulder,

which clamp comprises: an L-shaped base having a horizontal part and an upright part, the horizontal part of said base having a threaded hole; a top plate carried above said horizontal part and adjacent the vertical part of said base, said top plate having a hole therethrough in align ment with said threaded hole of the base; spring means between said top plate and base normally maintaining the same in spaced relationship; a resilient gripping member carried between said top plate and base, said gripping member having a hole therethrough in alignment with said threaded hole of the base, and said gripping member having a pair of diverging upwardly opening pincer arms between said top plate and the adjacent vertical part of' the base, one of said pincer arms having a protruding-l ridge formed on the inner surface thereof; and a threaded. bolt projected through the holes in said top plate andi gripping members and screwed into the threaded base hole to adjustably join said top plate and base, whereby said:

top plate and base may be drawn together against thel action of said spring means, and whereby the bottom rim of a fuel contanier inserted between said top plate and base, and between said diverging pincer arms will be resiliently clamped between said pincer arms, the protruding pincer arm ridge being positioned to engage the rim shoulder.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Lincks May I9, 1936 

